DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Edward Kane, Journalist

DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF

By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

MEGATREND: HONDA & CARBUYERS GOING HYBRID

Source: Honda

An accelerating car buying trend is developing with consumers hedging their green-electric preferences by going hybrid. For both Toyota and Ford, hybrid vehicle sales increased 41% in Q3 2023. Now, Honda is capitalizing on it with its new Honda Prelude concept. Prelude is re-emerging as a hybrid, petite coupe. Here are the key facts:
A 2-door, sporty sports car with good looks, the new Honda Prelude is ready to go into production
Compact-sized with a large diffuser in the back along with a spoiler
Hybrid electric to reduce carbon imprint
Industry experts predict it will be front wheel drive
Honda hasn't disclosed powertrain details
Honda CEO & President Toshihiro Mibe has said the new Prelude is already in development and he hopes to bring it to market in the mid-2020's
Honda is calling it the "prelude to all the electric vehicles Honda is going to be launching".

DESIGNING CITIES FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN 21C

Source: U of D & Stock

Researchers at the University of Delaware are developing urban land designs and uses to protect people from the severe weather being generated by Climate Change. Here are some key facts:
Severe weather including excessive heat and flooding is becoming more frequent with increasing intensity
Urban areas, where most people live, are not built to handle it
The researchers found that well designed urban land patterns can protect people
They found that building dispersal, rather than density, can protect people more than the size of the city they're living in
They found that urban land patterns can make a difference even if Climate Chane worsens
Both small and large cities can greatly benefit and greatly protect their populations by better handling of land development
The research team is now working on specific land development patterns for maximum effectiveness.

CHINA'S ENERGY BREAKTHROUGHS

Source: China Academy of Science

China leads the world in solar energy and now Chinese scientists have created a breakthrough Stirling generator, while a US patent for a similar power generating system appears to be gathering dust. Here's what we know:
The system is a highly efficient energy generator powered by heat
Called a thermoacoustic Stirling generator
Generator combines with a linear motor to generate electricity from sound waves
Power system is quiet and very efficient
Designed for optimum use in space and submarines
Chinese prototype is a milestone for this emerging technology
NASA has a patent for a similar system but hasn't revealed a prototype or any metrics
Chinese system delivered a record-breaking 102 kw of power from a heat source of 986-degrees F, which is considered a milestone for practical uses.

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